End-gate step for wagons



(No Model.)

W. HEATON. END GATE STEP FOR WAGONS.

Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HEATON, OF NEW BERLIN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES BENSENE, OF TESS CORNERS, WISCONSIN.

END-GATE STEP FOR WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 578,332, dated March 9, 1897. Application filed November 27,1896. Serial No. 613,471. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM HEATON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Berlin, in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements in End- Gate Steps; and I do hereby declare thatt-he following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention has for its object to provide simple economical step attachments for use in connection with wagon end-gates; and it consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a perspective view of my step attachment as it appears in connection with a wagon end-gate when the latter is swung up into normal position, and Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the step attachment as it appears when the end-gate is swung down.

Referring by letter to the drawings, Arepresents an ordinary end-gate hinged to the rear sill B of a wagon-body and provided with a rear central panel C, to which a metal wear-plate D is attached, this wear-plate being arranged to abut against the rear end of a running-gear reach-pole E when the end gate is swung down.

Joined by hinges F to the end-gate is an upper extension Gin the form of a head-piece provided with eyebolts H, having link connection with eye-plates J, fast on the sill B, where the latter projects from the sides of the wagon-body, the union of the links and eyeplates being at a greater elevation than the hinge connection of said end-gate with said sill.

In order to provide for fine hinge adjustment of the end-gate extension G, each of the aforesaid links is preferably two screwthreaded rod-sections K K, united by a turnbuckle L, as herein shown.

When the end-gate is swung down, the hinged extension G thereof comes from a vertical to a horizontal position and is held in the latter position by the links connecting it with the rear end sill, the wear-plate D on said end-gate being then-opposed to the rear end of reach-pole E, above specified. The reach-pole prevents the end-gate from swinging forward under the wagon-body, and the extension G of said end-gate being brought and held in a horizontal position serves as a step in rear of the wagon to facilitate loading or unloading of the same. The end-gate being swung up the extension G thereof automatically resumes its vertical position, and the eyebolts H, connected to this end-gate extension, are so arranged as not to interfere with rear ends of upper flare-boards, such as are sometimes employed in connection with the sides of the wagon-body.

From the foregoing it will be understood that head-boards G and necessary fittings may be furnished to the trade for application to new or old wagons.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A head-piece for hinge connection with an end-gate having like connection with a wagon-body, and links for attachment to the head-piece and wagon-body as a means for bringing said head-piece from vertical to horizontal position when said end-gate is swung down.

2. A head-piece for hinge connection with an end-gate having like connection with a wagon-body, and turnbuckle-links for attachment to the head-piece and Wagon-body as a means for bringing said head-piece from vertical to horizontal position when said endgate is swung down.

3. As an attachment fora hinge-drop endgate of a wagon, a' head-piece having hinges for connection with the gate and provided with eyes, linkrods having ends thereof joined to the eyes, and eye-plates engaging the other ends of the link-rods for connection with the rear end sill 0f the wagon, said headpiece constituting a normally-vertical extension of the end-gate convertible to a horizontal step when said gate is swung down.

4. A hinged end-gate of a wagon-body, a head-piece hinged to the end-gate and provided with eyes, other eyes in connection with the projecting ends of the rear wagonbody sill, and link-rods connecting the headpiece eyes with the sill-eyes, said head-piece constituting a normallywertical extension of In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 10 the end-gate convertible to a horizontal step have hereunto set my hand, at New Berlin, in

when said gate is swung down. the county of Vvaukesha and State of Wis- 5. Ahinged end-gate of a Wagon-body proconsin, in the presence of two Witnesses. 3 vided with a wear-plate for contact with the WM HEATON rear end of a running-gear reach-pole, a

head-piece hinged to the end-gate, and links WVitnesses:

in eye connection with the head-piece and GEO. S. ROSENBERG, rear sill of the wagon-body. HENRY ROSENBERG 

